TGN Focus: More Viewers on YouTube – That’s My Cue!

Anyone who casts game content live knows how much FOCUS (pun intended) it takes to keep talking throughout an entire video. What’s worse? Keeping that chatter entertaining and engaging can be very difficult for many gamers who are used to sitting quietly and stacking up headshots. Needless to say, it can get a little awkward…

So how do you keep from being an awkward penguin and boring the living daylights out of your YouTube viewer base? Let’s run through a few of the TGN team’s suggestions.

“Randomness is appealing in short bursts, but a storyline

can go a long way in keeping your viewers engaged”.

Scripting – Channeling Your Inner Scorsese

Script a YouTube video, you say? It seems odd, I know, but this can be a good little trick for anyone having trouble keeping up the monologue content in their videos. I’ve always had a soft spot for scripts myself, because most people often need some kind of storyline or lineage of subject material to enjoy a video. Randomness is appealing in short bursts, but a storyline can go a long way in keeping your viewers engaged.

Scripting usually results in more polished content as well, which means that your final product will have a better chance against your competitors. You don’t need to follow anything word-for-word, but having a general idea of how you want your video to go is a fantastic start.

“If they’re engaged in your video, they’re more

likely to subscribe or follow your channel…”

Making a Profession Out of Digression

Many of us don’t have the luxury of scripting our content because we’re recording a live Let’s Play, or casting an eSports match. In cases like these, many of the pros like to get personal during lulls in the content or talk a little bit about upcoming events to engage their viewers in their brand.

This is huge.

Take a moment to talk about yourself and what you’ll be focusing on for the next few days or weeks to get your viewers excited about not just the video, but your channel. If they’re engaged in your video, they’re more likely to subscribe or follow your channel if you offer something to look forward to. Take a second or two and (tactfully) promote yourself, or ask a question that gets people to comment. Being a YouTuber is all about marketing after all.

“Plenty of the most successful YouTubers got

their big break through collaboration”.

The Buddy System

If you need a little bit more practice before you can fill the silence for a full commentary or Let’s Play, collaborate with someone that you can banter with. Plenty of the most successful YouTubers got their big break through collaboration with another content creator, and it can be a great way to milk all the potential out of a Let’s Play.

This also splits the job of filling the silence between two people, and actually makes silence less awkward for the most part. Think of collaboration as bringing a close friend to a party instead of going alone. Even if you’re a good conversationalist, it’s always nice to fall back on someone if you run out of things to say.